TUI Cruises has appointed Kira Schikorr as the first female captain in the Mein Schiff fleet, marking a landmark moment for the German cruise line. Schikorr has assumed command of Mein Schiff 6, becoming the first woman to take overall command of any ship in the fleet.
Her promotion comes while Mein Schiff 6 is operating in Asia and represents a significant step forward in an industry where senior bridge roles have historically been dominated by men. For TUI Cruises, it is both an individual career milestone and a visible signal of changing leadership dynamics within one of Europe’s largest cruise brands.
Career Progression Through The Mein Schiff Fleet
Schikorr joined the Mein Schiff fleet in 2018, beginning her career with TUI Cruises as a Second Officer. Over the following years, she progressed steadily through the deck ranks, gaining experience across multiple vessels.
In 2022, she was promoted to Staff Captain and served in that senior role on ships including Mein Schiff 7. Her latest appointment places her in full command of Mein Schiff 6, with responsibility for navigation, safety, crew management and the onboard experience of thousands of guests.
Beyond her formal qualifications, Schikorr has developed a strong onboard reputation. Passengers have described her as approachable and easy to engage with during interactions at sea, a leadership style that is increasingly valued on modern cruise ships, where visibility and communication are key aspects of command.
Her appointment has been widely reported across German cruise media as a first for the brand and as evidence of a new generation moving into senior maritime roles.
A Long Road For Women On The Bridge
Schikorr’s promotion sits within a much broader historical context for women in the cruise and maritime industries. During the 19th century, women were often considered bad luck at sea, a belief rooted in superstition and reinforced by myths such as mermaids and sirens.
For decades, these attitudes translated into formal barriers, with many maritime academies in countries such as Greece, Italy, England and Norway refusing to admit women.
It is only within the last 25 years that these institutions have opened their doors more widely. In England, women were barred from maritime academies as recently as the 1980s. Today, they account for around 25 percent of cruise ship captains trained in the country, illustrating just how rapidly the landscape has changed.
The first woman to captain a major cruise ship was Karin Stahre-Janson, who took command of Monarch of the Seas for Royal Caribbean in 2007. Her appointment is widely regarded as the starting point for a gradual but meaningful shift across the industry.
Since then, a small but growing number of women have followed.
Kate McCue made history in 2015 as America’s first female cruise ship captain and later became the first woman to command a mega ship.
She went on to take charge of Celebrity Edge, a vessel designed by women and launched under the leadership of Lisa Lutoff-Perlo, the first female CEO of a major cruise line.
Other milestones include Belinda Bennett, who became the world’s first Black female cruise captain with Windstar, and Serena Melani, who became the first woman to captain a newly launched cruise ship when she oversaw the debut of Seven Seas Splendor after extensive involvement at the shipyard.
Cruise lines such as Virgin Voyages have also taken a more proactive approach, actively encouraging female recruitment for bridge and leadership roles through initiatives such as the Scarlet Squad during the launch of Scarlet Lady.
While men still occupy the majority of senior, higher-paid roles at sea, the industry has begun to more visibly recognise the commitment and sacrifices made by female officers. Promotions such as Schikorr’s demonstrate that long-standing stereotypes are continuing to erode, albeit gradually.
As Kira Schikorr begins her first command with Mein Schiff 6, her appointment stands not only as a personal achievement, but as part of a wider transformation in cruising, where the bridge is slowly becoming a more representative place of the passengers and crews it serves.
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